Optimizing Use of Human Resource

Dairy involves numerous operations requiring large number of workmen. Therefore,the productivity in dairy is highly dependable on the effective use of deployed manpower. It has been observed that under and over strength of manpower are unproductive and undesirable. Therefore, the best way is to deploy optimum strength and manage high productivity of each individual. Some of the relevant management concepts to optimize human resource are discussed below:

i. Leadership

Leadership is the vital point of contact between the workforce and their higherups.It is in fact the activity of influencing people to strive willingness for organizational objectives. Good leadership does this by lifting people’s vision to higher sights,raising of their performance to a higher standard and building of their personality beyond the normal limitations.

ii. Motivation Concepts

We know that human behaviour varies with circumstances and motivational factors.Motives or needs of a person are the real starting point and hence, is the core of management process. It is an effective instrument in inspiring the workforce to perform the duties by fully utilizing their skills and capabilities. The motivation and its influencing factors are explained by various theories. Some of them are given below to understand the process:

a) Maslow’s Theory: It is a need-based theory, which states that motive for work is developed for satisfying needs in hierarchical manner. Satisfaction of basic needs like physiological, safety, social will lead to motivation for higher needs such as ego and self- fulfillment /self actualization needs.

b) E-P-V Theory: Expectancy-Potentiality–Valence (E-P-V) theory states that combine effect of these three factors will determine ones inner urge to motivate or de-motivate for a particular work. Person will think of performing only if he perceives that he has ability to perform( factor E), that his efforts will result in the desired output(factor P) and the output has importance to him(factor V). The value of E and P varies from 0 to 1, whereas value of V could be from (-1) to(+1).

c) Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Hygiene factors also termed, as maintenance factor that support employees’ mental health are responsible for motivation. Their presence do not motivate, whereas the absence of these factors dissatisfies the employees. Hence they provide only working environment.

d) McGregor’s Participation Theory: Based on “X Theory” and “Y Theory” workmen can be controlled. X Theory favors persuasion for doing work by coercing, controlling, directing, threatening, punishing, whereas Y Theory believes in persuasion by positive management style.Therefore, understanding these theories can help the management to recognize requirement of workforce, set realistic targets, create congenial atmosphere and facilities to improve their abilities and implement right performance evaluation and reward/punishment policies.

iii. Skill Enhancement

As you have recognized in the motivation theories skill and ability of work force is very important. This can be achieved by identifying training needs of workforce and providing necessary support to fulfil them. A trained person better perceives his capabilities and performs the task more confidently. Training develops necessary knowledge, attitude and skills

iv. Management of Resistance to Change

It is rightly said that every action has its reaction. In similar way every furtherance of work, implementation of new methodology or technology, there happens to be a resistance to change, which if not managed appropriately in time, be detrimental to the productivity. This resistance would overcome by taking all concern human resource in confidence by correct assessment of impacts due to change, planning and undertaking actions to overcome these impacts and create awareness with effective communication involving good listening of suggestions.

v. Effective Communication

Communication involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding. This is an interchange of thought or information to bring about mutual understanding and confidence. It is the exchange of facts, ideas and viewpoints that brings about commonness of interest, purpose and efforts.Communication can be formal or informal, verbal or written and downward,upward or sideward depending upon the situation and requirement. Communication involves communicator/teller, message, communication symbols, communication channel and receiver/listener. Quality in these determines the overall effectiveness of communication. In order to have effective communication various barriers such as organization structure, status and position, semantic or language problem,screening or filtering of information, resistance of change and perception involved in the process must be understood to overcome them. For becoming good speaker,one has to be good listener too.

vi. Effective Coordination

Coordination is an orderly arrangement of group efforts to provide unity of action in the pursuit of common objectives. By effective coordination workforce can be utilized to put efforts for achieving unity of purpose.